US Congress calls GM CEO to testify again

General Motors bad handling of a 2.6 million cars recall that was linked to at least 13 deaths has been scrutinized by several federal authorities, with the automaker being probed in five different federal investigations.

While the federal safety authority – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – concluded its own investigation, imposing on the company the biggest fine allowed by current US law – $35 million, it’s likely that with the Congressional investigation things won’t go out that “smooth.”

After a first round of testimonies from GM CEO Mary Barra, and because the automaker’s internal review has been finally revealed, the executive has been called again to appear before a Congressional panel – on June 18th, at a US House of Representatives subcommittee hearing.

“Mr. Valukas’ exhaustive report revealed disturbing truths about GM’s systemic and cultural failures that allowed this problem to go undiagnosed for over a decade, but many questions remain unanswered about the recalls and resulting changes within the company,” said representatives of the panel.

According to a news release form the House oversight and investigations subcommittee, GM’s CEO Mary Barra and former federal prosecutor Anton Valukas would be the only witnesses called to testify at the hearing. Valukas has been called by the company as an outside leader of the internal investigation that started in March and presented its conclusions last week.